EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STATEMENT

Statement of the UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, on International Women's Day

8 March 2018

Vienna, 8 March 2018 - International Women's Day is a day to celebrate the towering achievements and immense strengths of women and girls everywhere. But it is also a day to reflect on continuing challenges and to agree on joint action to further advance gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Significant strides have been made to bridge inequalities and to create inclusive societies. Nevertheless, women around the world are plagued by dispiriting pay gaps in the workplace and unequal access to education. They face sexual harassment and violence rooted in endemic prejudices that disproportionately affect those living in the countryside.

The global call for the protection of women's rights has also generated a powerful surge for collective action.

UNODC is committed to doing our part through our global programmes on crime prevention and criminal justice, to prevent and stop human trafficking, and across the other areas of our mandate.

We are determined, through this work, to support and assist the millions of women and girls who are crime's victims and to help them become resilient survivors.

UNODC has also launched a new gender strategy, in line with the efforts of the wider United Nations, that will help to ensure that our workplaces deliver on equality and fairness, and that we advance measures to achieve gender parity.

By working together, UNODC is building a welcoming workplace where women can realize their full potential, and where all of us are treated with dignity and unfailing respect.

On International Women's Day, and founded on Goal 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, I affirm UNODC's continued pledge to every woman and girl: we will work tirelessly to end impunity and violence, improve protection and fight for justice.